Manchester United’s beleaguered players were spotted out and about for a team bonding night yesterday after their nightmare season took another turn for the worse.
United slumped to a 1-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Tottenham last time out, leaving them 15th in the Premier League and eight points adrift of the top half of the table. Damningly, they also find themselves just 12 points above the relegation zone.
It was their eighth top-flight loss under Ruben Amorim and the head coach has made no secret of the fact that his job is ‘so hard’ and complicated by ‘a lot of problems’.
But in an apparent attempt to lift their spirits, his players enjoyed a light-hearted evening in Altrincham in which they booked out an entire venue and played games.
Photos showed them heading to Lane 7 Bowling Alley, where they treated themselves to 10 pin bowling, darts, shuffleboard, table tennis and pool.
Rounds of bowling at the popular bar cost £12-a-head, mere pennies for the club despite their financial headache and controversial cost-cutting measures.
Manchester United players headed out for a team bonding night in Altrincham on Wednesday
Rasmus Hojlund was spotted in high spirits as United looked to lift the doom and gloom
Bruno Fernandes was spotted smiling as he made his way to a popular local bowling alley
Alejandro Garnacho, Manuel Ugarte and Leny Yoro were among those spotted taking a stroll to the eatery, while Rasmus Hojlund was seen in high spirits.
Bruno Fernandes also beamed as he took a walk earlier in the day.
Centre backs Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans, two of the most senior members of Amorim’s squad, appeared to share a joke with each other.
United return to action against in-form Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday in the midst of a nightmare slump that has seen them lose eight of their last 12 league games.
Adding to Amorim’s headache is the fact his squad has been rendered threadbare, with a number of injuries to first-team regulars forcing him to turn to the academy.
An absentee list now 12-strong saw him fill his bench with youngsters at Tottenham, with teenager Chido Obi brought on as a substitute in stoppage time for his debut.
‘I have a lot of problems,’ Amorim told Sky Sports. ‘My job is so hard but I am here to continue my job to the next week with my beliefs and I will try to win again.’
Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans shared a joke as they strolled to a Brazilian restaurant
Casemiro and Alejandro Garnacho donned casual wear for the cheap evening out
Andre Onana spotted a waiting camera as the squad walked down Stamford New Road